Power outage affects over 1g PSNH customers in Dover, Somersworth

DOVER — Early Sunday evening, officials reported a power outage throughout the area of Dover and Somersworth affected hundreds of Public Service New Hampshire (PSNH) customers.

PSNH spokesman Martin Murray said the power outage as of 6:15 p.m. had left 1,300 customers without power. PSNH Spokeswoman Laura Brown confirmed in total, 1,400 customers were affected just before 7 p.m. The outage was attributed to an equipment failure, specifically to an insulator involved with the operating system, Brown said.

The outage was under control by around 6:50 p.m. Brown added power would return shortly to the area around that time with the first of the outages reported in the area just after 5 p.m.

“Many of our large customers are already back on and in service so we believe those outages will be cleared very shortly,” Brown said.

Reports indicated at 6:30 p.m. police had worked to clear off entrances to businesses in the Weeks Crossing area at the Dover and Somersworth line, with a full blackout for that commercial area in effect.

Officials were working to direct traffic at the intersection off Route 9, as the traffic lights were without power along with the many local restaurants there.

A manager of the Chili's restaurant in Dover reported the outage was fairly minor and by 7 p.m., the restaurant was fully operating and already full with customers again.

The 99 Restaurant in Dover reported they were also back up and running just after 7 p.m. and they were only affected for about an hour.

A drizzle of rain had been experienced throughout the Garrison City earlier in the evening, though PSNH officials did not point to the weather as being a cause for the outage.